GARDEN RIVER FIRST NATION—On August 24, the TEK Elders Group met with two representatives of Eacom Timber Corporation in Garden River First Nation.

The TEK Elders Group is composed of Robinson-Huron Treaty Elders working to end the aerial spraying of glyphosate in north shore Lake Huron forests. Glyphosate, also known as Roundup, is an herbicide used to kill poplar, raspberries, fireweed, birch, and other species that overgrow jack pine or spruce on recently replanted clear-cuts.

The purpose of the aerial spraying or “aerial tending”, as the Eacom representatives called it, is to “maintain the same proportion of species that were in the landscape when [the forest] was cut.”

Tallman said that forestry companies are mandated by Ontario to manage forests in such a way that replanted trees “go back to the forest inventory,” which occurs at the “free to grow” stage, five to 15 years after planting.

“Aerial tending is one of the more efficient ways for conifers to come up above the competition,” stated Jennifer Tallman.

“We have a very different perspective of how we manage the land,” stated Josh Eshkakogan, a citizen and Elder of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. “We try to create a very diverse land and we can’t use poison to create a certain species for a user group.”

The approach of the newcomers is point focused, as Art Petahtegoose explained, surveying land, renaming places and defining spatial areas for exploitation.

“Suddenly it voids our presence, it erases our presence in our home,” Art Petahtegoose said. “It’s not an objective that we’re exploiting, it’s a life…when we put the Anishinabek name on a water body, we say there is a life there, an ecology that has to remain intact.”

The Elders spoke about how herbicides poison everything that lives in the sprayed area, from the water to moose to insects, which together form an integrated whole.

“The weeds did their job at a certain time,” Ray Owl of Sagamok Anishnawbek explained. “The Creator made them to do their job. That lifecycle is only so long and then the jack pine or spruce takes over.”

Garden River citizen Sue Chiblow pointed out that “this whole perspective of a tree competing against another tree is actually not true,” and that trees have been shown to share nutrients through sophisticated underground networks.

The Eacom representatives said that the company incorporates First Nations perspectives in the forest management process through the committees in charge of writing the 10 year plans.

Amanda Barbe from Henvey Inlet First Nation, sits on two different forest management planning committees and she noted that she “can tell you it is just a formality, it is not consultation.”

The primary role of First Nations individuals on forest management planning teams is to provide statistical data and information on “values” – points like bird nests and burial sites, or clearly defined areas such as trap lines – that would be disturbed by forestry operations. In Ontario, the forest management planning process begins with Crown approval for aerial spraying already in place. The use of forest herbicides is covered under the Class Environmental Assessment for Timber Management decision issued in 1994.

“Many of us believe the Crown doesn’t have the jurisdiction [over forest management]…what we’re seeing here is a jurisdictional issue,” Kenneth Daigle from Batchewana First Nations said.The Elders made it clear that under Treaty the Anishinabek gave permission for the newcomers to come onto the land and make a life, but that the Anishinabek retain the authority to make land management decisions.

The Treaty was also meant to share the wealth of the land so that First Nations would “never be in want,” Petahtegoose said. Manual tending of replanted areas, while more expensive than using herbicides, is practiced in Quebec, where Eacom also has forestry operations and where aerial spraying is illegal.

“I was around when they used to tend and release yellow birch. As late as the 70s, when I was with Lands and Forests, every winter people were hired to tend yellow birch. The same thing could be applied here.”

Eacom’s representatives said that they take their permission for forestry practices from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Environment.

Stephen O’Neill, a lawyer and retired judge who represents the TEK Elders Group, spoke of the Robinson-Huron Treaty Annuities case and the resurgence of First Nations in the Treaty Territory. While the upcoming annuities decision won’t address aerial spraying, the court case goes to the heart of a treaty-making process in which First Nations and the Crown agreed to walk together, O’Neill said. He pointed out that when Eacom says it is not part of the problem between First Nations and the government, the company is in fact taking a side.

“If I say I’ll just get my authority from the Crown, am I not concluding that there is no [First Nations] perspective here, no authority, no jurisdiction?”

In January 2017, 21 Robinson-Huron Treaty Territory Chiefs signed a declaration and resolution calling for a moratorium on aerial spraying.

The declaration states that “the Robinson Huron Treaty communities and their people have not been adequately consulted as required by the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 and Canadian law, nor has Canada or Ontario received our free, prior, and informed consent to spray these chemicals within our treaty territory, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

TORONTO – Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Elder Ray Owl has put the province on notice to stop the use of aerial spraying in the Robinson Huron Treaty territory. On the lawn of Queen’s Park in Toronto, May 31, he told the crowd of about 100 people that he went into the legislature building and spoke with the press. He said, “In that room over there, I declared war. It (aerial spraying) has to stop.”

This initiative was started several years ago when the Sagamok Anishnawbek Elder noticed signs in the bush while he was picking blueberries that aerial spraying was in use. After communicating with other Elders along the north shore of Lake Huron and in the Robinson Huron treaty territory, he learned aerial sprays were also being used in other areas. That’s when the TEK Group was formed, which is co-led by Mississauga First Nation Elder Willie Pine.Over the past few years, the initiative has been growing. Most recently, all 21 Robinson Huron Treaty Chiefs have signed a resolution to support the ban.

In part, the resolution reads, “The lands, waters, air, plants, animals, birds, insects and medicines within the Robinson Huron Treaty territory are being exposed to aerial spraying of chemical herbicides, including those containing glyphosate, with the intention that such application will encourage growth of planted trees by eliminating all other vegetation.”

The article also mentions that the chemicals used have “destructive effects and impacts upon the Anishinawbek way of life, including Treaty rights to fish, hunt, gather and harvest within the Robinson Huron Treaty territory.”

Since 2014, the group has delivered a position paper and written letters to the Federal Health Minister, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and with the provincial Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, seeking a moratorium on the use of aerial spraying. Despite those efforts, in it’s resolution, the TEK Group says aerial spraying has continued in various areas throughout the Robinson Huron Treaty territory.​At the peaceful demonstration at Queen’s Park, there were a small handful of Chiefs present, along with Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee.

Sagamok First Nation Chief Paul Eshkokogan is the regional Chief of the Robinson Huron Treaty. He said, “You know something is important when Elders take things into their own hands.”Former Superior Court Judge, The Honourable Stephen O’Neill reviewed the laws on the government responsibility of the ‘Duty to Consult’. He maintained First Nations were not consulted properly and spoke about the various Supreme Court decisions which have upheld the ‘Duty to Consult’.

From the grassroots level, Isaac Murdoch spoke at the event and said Anishinabek “have a right in our territories to say no.” Murdoch also discussed natural law and mentioned that resource extraction equals environmental devastation.

Elder Ray Owl says the province wants to see all First Nations on board the ban. Owl says he will be going to each territory to petition the people for their support to ban aerial spraying in Ontario.

10:40Welcome Address – Willie PineGood for the young ones to come here, very important that we talk about the destruction of Mother Earth by these chemicals.

Next Meeting set for October 21, 2014 at this same location.

Ministry of Natural Resources, Health Canada, Ministry of the Environment are invited to attend.

Recap discussion: Willie Pine - Mississaugi• Earth, animals, medicines are being destroyed these issues were brought up at the last meeting.• Young man shared what he witnessed in Garden River, it will be in the system of the water not just the river.• Meeting with MNR – questions – “ did you ask the animals”? MNR replies: we put up signs. They were told, animals don’t read, the signs are for the humans not the animals. MNR “ well the animals leave” YES, they leave, but they will come back later to eat this.

Recap discussion: Raymond Owl - Sagamok• Speaks to the young ones about the language, how the language you read is the language of the white man, “ when you read that, you think like that.” Learn the language of our people, so you can think like our people.• Explains living off the land as a young boy, remembers a memory of the river being full of dead fish, his father was very upset. That was just the beginning. Even the muskrats are depleting, no more muskrats, no more ducks. Once the fish were gone, the other animals started leaving. • In 1948 just 20 minutes before supper I was told to go catch a fish, it was fresh, no worries. Today we have to worry if we can eat the fish.• The people of this day did not pay for what they did ( past ), we are paying.• 1983 another incident happened. ( chemical spill ) What is the band going to do? Is the band not taking EB Eddy to court? We are taking the government to court, they are responsible, they regulate what happens.• Process foods now days, not good for your body. The doctor gives you pills now, before we would go in the bush. The world is being made complicated by chemicals.• They don’t do it in front of you ( aerial spraying ) but they do it up north where you cant see it.• They don’t like the poplar tree or birch, they spray so that those trees don’t come back, they are not worth any good ( money value ) they want Jack Pine• There are very few who know how to live off the land, we need to educate our young people how to do this so they have the knowledge to help produce change. Young people should be concerned.

Walter Perrault – Garden River• I feel privileged to be here. Everything I have learned was from when I was young. I was sharing with my girl, how the elders would sit in and talk in the language about the issues.• 2 + 2 = 4 the answer is not important, the + and the _ sign are the important pieces of the equation.• All my life I have been attached to the land, my people where farmers, we traded our food at the river, no roads or railways then. When my mom was 15 she would help in the kitchens at the bush/logging camps. She would share stories of the workers in the bush. They spoke of living off the land, they spoke about gardening. It is good you young ones are here, you need to be here. The energy we have in a room is good when we meet like this. If you have a sick tree in the woods, it will produce sick trees, it is the same with the fish and other beings. A sick one will make a sick one. The bush has a cycle, it does it naturally, we don’t need to manage it. I am very visual, I can read all kinds of stuff, but probably forget it, but if I see it I will remember. I have to touch the items to remember them. I tell my children the stuff I remember. We have to sit with our knowledge ..... to gain their???

Grace Manitowabi – Sagamok• The Fall Harvest is coming soon. My concern is our children are allowed to eat the liver of the moose. I hope that it is not poisoned by chemicals.

Evelyn Roy – Mchigeeng• I am very concerned about this when I heard about this. My husband hunt here and now...???

Emma Meawasage – Serpent River • I am proud of the two young men who started this group so we can join them to help out. We believe in the Creator and we still do. We live with what the Creator gave us. We live by the Grandfather Teachings. We have all of those in us. It is very concerning today that what is being shared here today.• When we were young we learned the teaching as a way of life, not just words. Each season we were told which animals to harvest at certain times. MNR put restrictions on us – can’t do this and that.• We were not taught in this way, we were taught with respect. We were taught all beings have a spirit, it is all energy. We were reminded over and over what we should be doing or not doing.• I am very glad the young ones are here to listen. When we think of pollution today it is rampant, in all the plants and animals. In my childhood we did not need doctors or nurses. Our people knew what types of medicines we needed for the ailment we faced.

Wilfred McLeod – Brunswick House First Nation• Not shore line people but from the area being affected. Used google maps to see the mass of destruction of large lots.• Dad would kill moose, the heart and liver were the first things to eat. Now there are signs not to eat these parts, - poison. Worked in the mines, asked to work away, he said no, want to stay close to home• 1973 – 1978 friend went away to work. Over that summer the area was sprayed, he went to the river for water. He seen a skim of something on the water, the pollen was coming in at that time. He made tea from the water, within minutes he was feeling sick. He had to go to the hospital. August – September – woke up in march of that next year. He had webt into coma 225 pounds down to 150 pounds. His pores on his face was all black like someone rubbed coal on his face and wiped it off. His face looked dirty after this ordeal. One cup of tea. He even boiled the water, but still in there ( the chemicals)• Asked his friend, did you report this incident. No a doctor would not let me write a report about the chemical ingestion. He ahs passed on since. They would not perform an autopsy on his body.• Suspicious how his friend died. This type of chemicals they are using is being sold from behind caged racks, wonder why it has to be caged up. Ensuring the young are that they can make change.• He too ( my dad ) was sent out with a 22 gun at 6 yrs old to get a meal, shoot 5 partridge he was told. He was too small to pull the lever so his mom put a leather strap on the trigger so he could pull it. The amount of moose are falling• Went hunting, MNR officer asked to check their guns, looked over them and then asked if they seen any poachers, if you see any call us and we will arrest them. Why would i turn in a man trying to feed his family?• MNR says poachers are over hunting the moose. No, it is the chemicals that are killing the moose.• The logging companies spray all the time, the moose feast on those branches.• Well it seems the lumber companies are killing 100’s of moose, but you will charge one man for one moose. Seems not right. The creator made it for us we are here to look after it. The young ones need to listen to the older ones so that you can keep the fight going.• 1948 – Sudbury no live trees the green was dead, rock and mud only. To hunt you had to leave the area. The mines and the chemicals killed the area. Sulfur in the lake would pickle the eggs, they would not hatch. No more fish was produced. 40 -80 tanks a day of acid. Only today the trees are coming back.• You kids got to listen to the elders. We hope you guys carry on. It is not for us, it is for you guys. We have to talk about a way to do this. It is not our life no more, it is more for your life.

Lewis Debassige – Mchigiing• We are from UCCM elders council. I want to take time to say Miigwetch for having us here today in your territory. We need to network more among our people in our language.• We say we come here to play with you against them. We ask that you come work with us, when one is in trouble we stand together. That’s why we are here.• MNR thinks their ways are superior to our ways, we have the preamble that is our law, it cannot be changed that is what the Creator gave us. We are entrusted to care for mother earth. • The flip side of that is what ever you do in nature it will come back to meet you in times to come. The white man doesn’t seem to understand this. They want to improve the lad, “you savages never made improvements. • The Creator made the land perfect, there is no need for improving the land. To these young people, we invite you to meet with our young people.

Grant Buck- Representative , Micheal Mantha; MPP Algoma/Manitoulin • This morning I delivered a letter to Ray Owl on behalf of Mr. Mantha in support of TEK Elders in this process. I would like to compliment the elders on the name of the group, the word knowledge is well suited.• Mr. Mantha wrote a letter to the Ministries. He will bring back the response at a later date.

Brian Assinewe – teacher Biidabin Elementary School Sagamok• Teaches geography and history• Teaching the young ones how the government uses the resources they collect from the earth• Chemicals cause birth defects and miscarriages and such, how can we teach how to keep mother earth safe• It has opened my eyes as to what we can teach to the young ones, our...?

Matt Venderburt – grade 7 teacher Biidaban Elementary School Sagamok• Taught these kid 2 X over. These kids are great with technology• Not aware of this until the day before. Talk about all connections of the land

Robert Bouchard – Massey Ontario• Domtar – Chemical Springs. They called it holy water, I would like to get some of this water• I want to see how long minnows will last. They say they will do no such testing, why do they transfer it at night, why do they use helicopters. There needs to be some change

Percy Owl• I went back to the area that was sprayed, there are no animals there.

Grace Manitowabi• Asked the kids to prepare a one page essay to show what they have learned from this session

Gord Day – Massey, Ontario• Students should bring questions forward to Mr. Mantha at the next meeting• I have written a letter to the people who I thought would be involved, no replies as of yet.• There is strength in numbers, not getting anywhere with one letter from one person. We should eb worrying aabout all areas. Timing of the spray, multiple chemicals, multiple industries.• Look at the website, the information from these sessions will be there.• This group of Anishnawbek signed treaties with the government, the treaties are between Canada and the First Nation, now the provinces are causing trouble.• Keep inventory of what we have this time of year to prepare for the winter season. The government doesn’t take stocks, they can disappear and not know until it is too late to fix it.• We have the townships here because they can’t get no where with their own people• We are taking stocks to make sure we have enough for the next 7 generations.• Parents need to help the children with this battle. Maybe the great grandchildren will be able to eat the liver again. We are forced to eat and drink dirty food. • Employment has dwindled brush cutters, replaced by spray. Employment can spike

Blake Commanda – Serpent River First Nation• There is pollution all around the road, the airplanes – jet fuel chemical trails acid in these chemical trails it is falling to the earth landing on our plants. We need to get them to change their fuel or pathways.

Pamela Perrault – Garden River• It wasn’t too long ago I was sitting here listening to the elders. I am almost done PhD in forestry• If I put a wood stove in my house do I have enough wood to sustain my home?• Now that I am making my own family I am starting to think differently, root cellar, root house.• What happens when there was no electricity and there is no parents to rely on?• I asked my dad when I grow up, what should I do? I went to school to study fish. I learned at school that the fish are tied to the forest. The earth is made perfect. We need to learn how to manage ourselves.• I know a lot about the sciences, I am learning about human behaviour.• You grow up quick, what are you going to do when it is your turn?• My role is take the words and put them on the paper for the elders.

Chief Reg Niganobe – Mississaugi First Nation• Asks if there are any comments ( youth / elders )• Concerned about the traditional territory and the spraying, you don’t have to go far to see this.• There are signs there, but do the animals read these signs? NO• People are picking berries and selling them to the people on the highway, they are sending them all over. Our people are eating this. Be aware of the nuclear waste also, we have to protect our areas.• Ranger Lake, Bark Lake, Spend summer in these areas, still do.

Grace Manitowabi _ Sagamok• To talk about Chief & Council meeting, please bring awareness about this issue. I was hoping more people would show up, but maybe next meeting there will be more.• Thanks to Lewis and elders attending and coming to help us.• Students any concerns, voice it now?• Request to invite them back to do a little presentation• We are not alone in this we have a neighboring town who are suffering, we should share our information with them so we can help them help us.• Refers to website www.tekelders.weebly.com

Evelyn Roy• 3 weeks ago a black birds on the road. One was dead, one was staggering, on my way back home the other bird was dead.

Willie PineNNext discussion will be on plan of action, what should we be doing.Carol Hughes is presenting the resolution to office. October we will have more answersDoctor of the environment from Toronto will come present information on this chemical.TK has a legal binding to bring information the government to make sure the knowledge is given.The next meeting will contain more emotions, there will be in depth conversations, prepare yourself for the emotions, this will not go away over night. They will say close the door, stop looking at it, but we will not close the door no more, we have to speak up its all about money. Money does funny things to people. MNR is squirming because they are afraid of us talking about it. When I was younger, I would cut in the bush, now they use sprays.

Request for donations to keep this group going, unable to provide lunch for the meetings

Main reason for elders not attending meetings, because they have to attend a doctors appointment.

Pamela Perrault• Bio accumulation. Accumulation Impacts, research these terms, bring back questions about this for the Ministers.• Calmative Impact – multiple levels of items build up on the earth and cause great impacts• Description of terms offered to students

Although I arrived here from BC in 2008, I spent my youth fishing the Spanish around Nairn. I purchased a small acreage to build my cabin aand retire to a life of fishing and hunting and enjoying the nature of my youth. The nature has changed and not for the better.

Many changes happened to this environment during my stay in BC and other provinces,particularily the amounts of spraying by SEVERAL government and private agencies.From MNR to Hydro and railroads to MTC, each of these agencies have their own spraying policies and schedules.

Te MNR might only spray every 2-3 yrs, while MTC might spray in the middle years. Basically, the land is being sprayed almost continuously by one agency or the other and possibly, each with their own cocktail of poisons.

Does each agency know which chemicals are sprayed by the other?

Is anyone aware of interactions of one chemical against the other?

And what of long term effects on humans, plants and animals?

Apparently a few studies have been done to evaluate the effects, but none for longer than 5 years that we are aware of. Suppose a longer study was done and it was determined that in yearr 6, the environment would be adversely affected? It would be financially prudent for the study to be only published as a 5 yr study, thereby, showing little or no adverse effects in that time frame, while knowing full well, that changes occurred shortly thereafter.

I remember DDT. It too was studied and deemed 'safe' by the same gov that touts the advantages of glysophate, today.

We all know that DDT had hidden long term effects against the eagles and other raptors. We may never know what other calamities this chemical has done, and is continuing to do to this day.

Will glysophate have the same legacy?

We have unemployment problems in this country. There used to be jobs in the bush and along roadways/rail lines, that employed folks to do the work that the spraying is purported to accomplish.

Those jobs are gone, replaced by welfare and unemployment. Forcing the people to relocate to cities where no resemblance of nature or heritage is to be found, save for a small green space with so many regulations that enjoying it can be a challenge at the best of times.

Folks have become detached from the environment that sustained their ancestors for generations before.

Most laws and ordinances are dictated from cities far away from the areas that are being decided upon.

I understand consolidation, but why should someone who has never hunted, never fished, never foraged, be allowed to dictate policy to those who do?

And more and more, these areas are being 'protected' by disallowing access to those who depend on these areas for livelihood and sustenance.

Our grandchildren will be the recipients of this calamity we leave for them and for what? A few dollars more? Dollars that are barely a shadow of their former wealth?

When any government talks about 'management', they are merely speaking of dollars.

As the saying goes "we are from the government, and we are here to help". Ask any native American how that is working out.

Distrust? My lack of trust in any government or agency is built on facts and placating words at election time.

In closing, I applaud you and your group, and will attempt to be at your future meeting.

Please put me on your mailing list for this struggle.

Remember, when an elder passes on, they take a whole library with them, unless their knowledge is passed to willing hands.

Enough is enough already, so say North Shore elders who are standing up in what Sagamok First Nation elder Raymond Owl calls a “battle to prevent these violent acts against our environment,” namely the 30 year old program of aerial spraying of nearby forests with chemicals. Although these chemicals are banned by Health Canada for use in gardens and lawns they are still used by the forestry industry to proliferate profit. The chemical used in spraying, Glyphoshate has one purpose, “it is designed to kill” according to Physicians for the Environment. On August 19, Raymond Owl, an elder from Sagamok First Nation, along with Willie Pine from Mississaugi First Nation met with a group of elders, youth and other concerned citizens from the north shore of Lake Huron at Mississaugi First Nation to discuss and resolve what to do about the aerial spraying of forest in the region. Not prepared to sit by and allow the spraying of forest to continue as it has for over 30 years, Owl made the elders position clear saying, “aerial spraying is our common enemy.” He referred to the chemical, “Roundup or Glyphoshate” used in the spraying, as a cousin to “Agent Orange,” a chemical used in Vietnam which resulted in adverse health affects for American forces and Viet Cong alike. In an August 20th CBC interview in response to Raymond Owl and the elders' concerns, Toronto doctor, Gideon Foreman, Director of Physicians for the Environment, stated his group also has serious concerns about aerial spraying. Firstly, he said it is banned for lawn and garden use, and “is designed to kill;” also beneficial insects such as lady bugs, earth worms, frogs and other amphibians are negatively affected by the spraying. Foreman continued, saying, the Federal Government regulates what chemicals are used, and, any research in determining whether or not a chemical agent is used is provided to Health Canada by the users of the product. Gideon agreed with the elders by declaring “We don't think it should be used.” He went on to say his group believes the forestry industry “can continue without these products and find other ways.” Representatives from municipalities in the north shore area attending the elders' meeting were unanimous in supporting the elders concerns on requesting the province to begin a moratorium on the use of Glyphoshate. As a result of the meeting a resolution was made by the the Traditional Ecological Knowledge elders' (TEK) group to word and submit a request to the province to ban using the chemical. According to Health Canada, they are reevaluating Glyphoshate to determine the safety of its use and will come to a decision in late 2014. In the meantime, elders from the north shore of Lake Huron are hedging their bets by making their voices heard in addressing the dangerous impact of aerial spraying on the environment. Chief Seathl, one of the most revered First Nation chiefs, with his great and noble soul, faithfully mirrored the thoughts, dreams and aspirations of elders from the Norh Shore in his poem penned in 1852

This we know.The Earth does not belong to man:Man belongs to the earth.This we know.All things are connectedLike the blood which unites one family.All things are connected.Whatever befalls the earthBefalls the son of the earth.Man did not weave the web of life.He is merely a strand of it.Whatever he does to the web,He does to himself.”

One elder from the area told the group “we go up the Tote Road to pick our medicine and there is nothing there today.”

Perhaps Raymond Owl conveyed Chief's Seathl's plea when he told the group, “As humans we depend on the waters, air, plants, animals, birds, insects and medicines for survival, it is what sustains life, it is all inter connected. It is the Creator's Plan for us to live in harmony with these elements and to benefit from a long healthy life when we respect and honor what is given to us. It is our duty therefore to uphold the Creator's Plan.”